Riding The "Title" Wave

As the leaves fall and the air becomes crisp, it seems like the natural time to reflect and be more aware of all of the daily blessings that life has to give.  I think that it is especially important to have gratitude and be thankful for the little things that make each day shine a bit brighter. At this time of year the end to our first quarter in our school year is just around the bend, and the routines for our classroom and school days have seemed to settle in a bit.  The little humans that we began our school year journey with about seven weeks ago as strangers, are now a part of our every day life and have become some of the people that we know best of all. I think that by writing a "thankful" letter to my students is one way to put it all into perspective.  I have done this for many years and I feel as though it not only lets my students know what makes them such a special part of our classroom, but it also helps me to really think about what I love abo...

It is always so hard when a student moves away and it is especially difficult when it happens with very little notice prior to them leaving.  Yesterday, this was the case.  I found out in the morning that one of my students would not be returning the next day.  Immediately I try to think of ways to make this last day a special and memorable one for him. After lunch in the classroom accompanied by a few chosen, closest friends, and just some time one-on-one reminiscing about happy and humorous times from years past, loose ends seemed a bit more settled...for the student moving, the friends involved, and for me. As the year presses on, I know that there will be more instances of students moving away without much prior notice.  Just like having unexpected sub day plans in place, I think that I am going to try to also have unexpected student moving away plans in place as well so that everyone involved in the transition feels a more complete sense of closure....